Critical Thinking #3

The current popular culture is centered directly around technology and the positives and the negatives that it can bring with it. The popular culture that surrounds the youth of today is filled with appalling lyrics to songs, easy access to the internet that houses all sorts of problems for our youth, and television and movies that make all this degrading material and lifestyle seem natural and healthy. I can not believe that parents let their young children both male and female listen to and watch the things that main stream media are coming up with and marketing to these easily persuaded youth. In the past popular culture has always been present however, it may not have seemed to be so potent to our youth, popular culture has taken it to the next level of pushing the envelop to see what is acceptable to society. Movements in today’s popular culture are those focusing on using technology to the absolute fullest potential of what it is that a company or business needs to sell their product to youth whether it is music, movies, alcohol, tobacco, sex, and even drugs. I try to not be a part of the culture that is popular, I listen to old country music, and since my wife and I had our first child it has been a long time since we watched a movie. The closest I am to this new culture is by being a advisor for FFA students and encouraging them to make good decisions that won’t hurt their goals and life ambitions.

Pre Reading Blog Unit 3

Popular culture! What hasn't popular culture touched and influenced today? I don't think there is anything that popular culture hasn't touched. I will go towards the side of our schools, since I work directly with agriculture students whom you may think wouldn't be influenced by popular culture. Wrong, they are affected just as any other student in today's education system. They are influenced by the media and film industry, it is asthonishing to think but I have had a problem with minors having sexual intercourse at the school farm in which I manage. I graduated from this school just 5 years ago and we would have never thought of doing something like that at our school farm. But today it is portrayed to be dangerous and rebellious to do inappropriate things in public places. The school does not even worry about kids smoking anymore they have given up on that fight instead they now spend their time chasing the harder drugs. What has caused the change in the schools attitude and the students behaviors? I do blame a lot of it on the main stream media, music, movies, etc. It is apalling to listen to some of the new music that has come out, I personally listen to old country where men respect women. But not this new rap crap, hell they might as well be raping these women in the song lyrics, and to think our 12 year old boys are listening to this. Put two and two together and answer the question of why domestic violence and rape statistics are on the rise?